Photo courtesy City of Campbell River.
The City of Campbell River says childcare needs “will soon be better understood” with help from a $25,000 grant award to develop a child care needs assessment and space creation strategy.
The grant is awarded to the city, in partnership with Campbell River Family Network, through provincial funding for local governments to assess and develop an action plan for more spaces for children’s care.
A 2018 report identified one in three children in Campbell River is vulnerable in one or more of the early development measurements such as health and wellness, communication and language.
the city says accessible, affordable child care plays a key role in early childhood development.
Campbell River Mayor Andy Adams said in a statement assessing local child care needs and creating a plan for more available spaces will help meet demands in a growing community.
“Accessible, quality child care is essential to the success of a community. Child care plays a vital role in supporting Campbell River families and in attracting newcomers,” Adams said.
Campbell River Child Care Society chair Joyce McMann says the network has been aware of mounting concern over the availability of quality, affordable child care.
“The growing awareness of the critical nature of the early years in setting the trajectory for lifelong health and success adds pressure to parents’ search for the right care for their children,” McMann said in a statement.
The project is expected to take about eight months and include developing an inventory and mapping of existing child care spaces and engage stakeholders to hit creation targets for short, medium and long-term spaces.
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